Is John Smoltz still looking for a job? Why not with the Cubs?
by cubnational on Feb 27, 2010 8:53 AM CST
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The recent sad history of John Smoltz was vigorously discussed on BCB last August at
http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2009/8/18/993375/should-the-cubs-sign-john-smoltz
With the recent issues relating to shutting down Guzman, perhaps John can be a stop gap issue if the price is right. It's possible he may have enough in his tank left to come out of the pen in long relief or even spot starting. I'm not sure that the Cards used his present skill set and capabilities well in the roles they placed him in, but I think he'd fit serviceably well in with the Cubs. What are your thoughts?
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.
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It was also vigorously discussed on BCB...
… in this FanShot two weeks ago.
My opinion as expressed in that post have not changed. While he had a couple good starts with the Cardinals, by the end of the year he had run out of gas. He will be 43 in May. Enough already.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
I posted the fanshot
… and at this point, I’d prefer Calero. Depending on the price, of course.
I think you would prefer Calero at ANY point, based on your posts about him.
:)
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
We hear that Calero has shoulder issues
which is why no one has signed him yet.
"I actually used about nine pitches--two different fastballs, two sliders, a curve, a changeup, knockdown, brushback, and hit-batsman" - Bob Gibson
by ISawGodInGibby'sRightArm on Feb 27, 2010 11:37 AM CST up reply actions
Thanks for the update.
I knew there must be a good reason.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
based on what?
I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren
by lookingdeadred on Feb 28, 2010 10:10 AM CST up reply actions
well, no, actually
As I said the other day, I think — at this point — that there must be some issue with Calero preventing the Cubs from pulling the trigger. I just can’t imagine he’s still holding out for a mutliyear, big-money deal.
Clearly Calero is the better choice
Smoltz is toast
I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren
by lookingdeadred on Feb 27, 2010 10:08 AM CST up reply actions
I disagree with you here Al
Smoltz still had good stuff last year, and knows how the pitch. Seriously, his stuff was above average, although obviously not as good as before, and it was mostly his location that was hurting him in Boston. In Boston he was throwing a ton of strikes, trying to blow his stuff by people. It was working, as he was striking out a lot of batters and rarely allow walks, however, he was also making too many mistake pitches. In St. Louis, threw his fastball down in the zone much more, and worked off of his offspeed pitches better.
He is 43, but I don’t think he’s done at all. I have been campaigning for the Cards to sign him all offseason.
by vivaelpujols on Feb 27, 2010 11:49 PM CST up reply actions
So his last five starts didn't convince you he was done?
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
His last five starts with the Cardinals?
by vivaelpujols on Feb 28, 2010 11:09 AM CST up reply actions
You mean when he struck out 40 batter's and walked 9 in 38 innings?
If anything, they convinced me he was not done.
by vivaelpujols on Feb 28, 2010 11:12 AM CST up reply actions
+1
He was dreadful with the Red Sox, but decent with you guys. I’d much rather have him pitching than someone like Patton, depending on the price, of course. Not to mention, he brings a lot of great experience.
"That pitch wasn’t down and in, that pitch was down and up." Tim McCarver
by wrigleyrocker12 on Feb 28, 2010 11:13 AM CST up reply actions
Yes, his last 5 starts with the Cardinals.
When he walked 8 and struck out 25 in 27 innings… and had an ERA of 5.67.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
By the back of my napkin...
…his BABIP was .353 in those starts, which is usually unsustainably high for a pitcher with good enough stuff to strike out that many batters. I don’t know of a handy way to calculate strand rate from the numbers at b-r, but he allowed only a .755 OPS in those starts (and it was SLG-heavy, so probably an overestimation of how well opposing hitters did… I don’t know a handy way to get something linear-weights based from b-r either). If, on a per-batter basis, hitters do about average against you, and you’re giving up significantly more runs than average, you’re probably getting unlucky in terms of hit timing, something that most pitchers don’t control (there are some exceptions… Javy Vazquez supposedly pitched measurably worse from the stretch for years, for example — I don’t think Smoltz is likely to have become an exception in 2009).
At any rate, in his total time with the Cards he had a 4.26 ERA and allowed a .666 OPS with a low OBP against. I might worry that he still has the endurance to start; 38 innings in 7 starts (and only topping 90 pitches twice) isn’t very good. I have a feeling he still could be a useful pitcher.
I should clarify
ERA is a function of 4 things:
*The pitcher’s performance
*The batter’s performance
*The fielder’s performance
*The ballparks “performance”
Pitcher’s have zero control over the last 3, and in a ridiculously small sample size, ERA, and in fact all stats, are simply far too influenced by those things to mean much of anything.
Scouting, Pitch f/x, pitch by pitch data – these are things you look at when trying to judge a pitcher’s performance in a small sample size – not cherry picking 5 starts worth of ERA.
by vivaelpujols on Feb 28, 2010 8:02 PM CST up reply actions
I completely understand why a Cards' fan
would want the Cubs to sign a washed up guy like Smoltz.
I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren
by lookingdeadred on Mar 1, 2010 12:27 PM CST up reply actions
As a Cub fan
I, too, would want the Cards to sign Smoltz.
I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren
by lookingdeadred on Mar 1, 2010 5:06 PM CST up reply actions
It is only meaningless because his numbers are awful
If his 27 innings pitched produced a sub 3 ERA you would be touting it as proof he still has got what it takes.
I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren
by lookingdeadred on Mar 1, 2010 5:06 PM CST up reply actions
No, I wouldn't, because ERA is not a good stat for evaluating pitcher's in a small sample size
And I have no idea what I did to deserve this aggression from you.
that is correct
but you will point to a 28 inning stretch
You mean when he struck out 40 batter’s and walked 9 in 38 innings? If anything, they convinced me he was not done.
by vivaelpujols
Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/
28 inning not 28 inning
Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/
wow did i fail lol
38 not 28
Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/
So ... how many innings, exactly???
Who cares if he's a Cubs fan? This is a football forum! He is a PACKER fan as well. So, from now until March, I’m sure he’ll dedicate a lot of his time here. In late March, then we can be enemies during the baseball season. Besides, the Cubs have perhaps the most loyal baseball fanbase in the country. You have to respect that.
Go Pack!
by Jabooty on Jan 25, 2010 2:58 PM EST
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 2, 2010 7:45 PM CST up reply actions
Well I didn't bring up the stats, it was Al
I initially started by saying he looked really good in St. Louis independent of his stats and talked about his velocity and location. I personally wouldn’t use stats at all in 38 innings (or very little). And if you are going to use stats, strikeouts and walks are a hell of a lot better than ERA.
by vivaelpujols on Mar 1, 2010 11:05 PM CST up reply actions
Right.
Look at Smoltz’s K and BB for his first two starts, and his last five, with the Cardinals. I trust you can see the difference.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
...
A) His K:BB ratio was 25:8 (or a little over 3:1) in those starts. That is well above the major league average.
B) I’m not sure why you find it okay to only look at his 5 bad starts with the Cardinals while ignoring his 2 really good ones. If you do that for every pitcher, than you could make it sound like they are all bad.
Overall, in 2009, Smoltz had a 3.87 FIP, as daver posted below. He pitched a bit worse than that probably because his ERA was so high; however, at worst, he was a league average pitcher last year. And that’s a valuable commodity.
by vivaelpujols on Mar 2, 2010 11:41 AM CST up reply actions
...
I’m not sure why you find it okay to only look at his 5 bad starts with the Cardinals while ignoring his 2 really good ones.
Um, I’m pretty sure this speaks for itself. 5 bad starts out of 7?
by Steven Schweickert on Mar 2, 2010 12:28 PM CST up reply actions
It would seem to be obvious, but ...
I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren
by lookingdeadred on Mar 2, 2010 12:38 PM CST up reply actions
Further...
… the 5 bad starts FOLLOWED the two good ones, which to me would imply that he was running out of gas.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
2 good starts out 7
why do you think that is some sort of endorsement? 42 y/o has beens must not be all that valuable as no one seems to beating down the door to get him.
I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren
by lookingdeadred on Mar 2, 2010 12:37 PM CST up reply actions
I believe the difference is...
…a pitcher can largely control strikeouts and walks while ERA is largely team/defense-dependent. Maybe Smoltz is D-O-N-E, maybe he’s not – but the fact that he struck out 40 major league hitters in 38 innings certainly leaves the matter up for discussion in my book.
also...
it’s not like the Cubs want him to pitch a ton of high-leverage innings… unless he’s got gas left in the tank. I’d take a flyer on him as a reliever.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Just North of Wrigley Field
by jameslcrockett on Mar 4, 2010 11:55 AM CST up reply actions
Aggression?
I am challenging your interpretation of the stats. If Smoltz is such a bargain, why aren’t your Cards all over him?
I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren
by lookingdeadred on Mar 2, 2010 12:35 PM CST up reply actions
Now if
the topic was Jarod Washburn, I would have to say yes. I am all about bringing in arms. Unfortunately Guzman is always going to have health issues, bring more arms into camp please.
must have missed that fanshot, sorry
I still think he’s worth the gamble. I think he’ll want too much money.
Blue mountains high .. Blue valleys low
I don't know which way we will go ..
One summer dream .. one summer dream ..
coda
ELO, 1975
PEDRO!
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Feb 27, 2010 10:22 AM CST reply actions
In July...
Yes, absolutely. For a full year? No way. I don’t think he can pitch a full year, nor do I think he’s going to attempt to pitch a full year.
Sorry, I do not agree with this one.
Who cares if he's a Cubs fan? This is a football forum! He is a PACKER fan as well. So, from now until March, I’m sure he’ll dedicate a lot of his time here. In late March, then we can be enemies during the baseball season. Besides, the Cubs have perhaps the most loyal baseball fanbase in the country. You have to respect that.
Go Pack!
by Jabooty on Jan 25, 2010 2:58 PM EST
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 2, 2010 7:46 PM CST up reply actions
Smoltz seems inclined to wait it out...or maybe he simply is retiring
The Blackhawks and the Stanley Cup in 2010.
Wouldn't surprise me.
Who cares if he's a Cubs fan? This is a football forum! He is a PACKER fan as well. So, from now until March, I’m sure he’ll dedicate a lot of his time here. In late March, then we can be enemies during the baseball season. Besides, the Cubs have perhaps the most loyal baseball fanbase in the country. You have to respect that.
Go Pack!
by Jabooty on Jan 25, 2010 2:58 PM EST
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 2, 2010 7:46 PM CST up reply actions
Detroit, maybe?
since he still has roots there from what I remember.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Just North of Wrigley Field
by jameslcrockett on Mar 4, 2010 11:56 AM CST up reply actions
Yes, Smoltz is from Michigan and was originally drafted by the Tigers.
There was some talk he might sign with them before he went to the Red Sox.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
It's a great feel-good story...
but I don’t see it. You get the guy for a mil or so, then you do it in a minute. But at the end of the day, I suspect that the type of offers he’s fielding just don’t seem worth his time or trouble, especially to work in middle relief.
This is somebody that I’d keep an eye on towards the deadline, where maybe he can cherry-pick a team steaming toward the playoffs, and try to hitch a ride for another ring, in lieu of cash.
Well...
I’m guessing that John Smoltz will be highly selective in what team he joins. And if it doesn’t happen until a month or two into the season, then so be it. EIther that or he is retiring and hasn’t felt inclined to pull a Brett Favre and tell the world for fear he might change his mind down the road.
The Blackhawks and the Stanley Cup in 2010.
Nah
Let the guy retire and then join the Braves broadcast crew – he’s awesome in the booth.
"Who ever heard of the Cubs losing a game they had to have?" -Frank Chance
"If [Ruth] had [called his shot], I would have knocked him down with the next pitch." -Charlie Root
Who are these people
who keep asking if Sammy Sosa, Jim Edmonds, Smoltz and other washed up / aged players can come back and fill in on this year’s world championship Cubs team? Isn’t this the kind of stuff Carrie Muskat is best discussing?
Yes'm
No one is asking about Jim Edmonds.
He’s already signed with the Brewers. (Oh, and I haven’t seen anyone asking about Sammy either.)
I think..
It’s because the inept GM can’t bring up any hot prospects (they have none) and cant afford any good players since they’ve spent all their money on bad ones.
The journey is the reward!
ML ready?
Maybe Castro. Is there a Heyward or a Rasmus out there I’m missing?
The journey is the reward!
Maybe by the end of this year, Castro will be at that level.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
yep..
No position player ML ready. I’m sorry daver if that was a rhetorical question.
My frustration with this organization is just over the top. I challenge anyone on this board to come up with 1 (just 1!) position player who is a multiple year all-star produced by the Cubs organization in the last 10 years playing with the Cubs or not.
Why new ownership couldn’t realize that the first thing that needs to be done is fire the GM further depresses me. Don’t talk to me about fan experience, just win some games!
Clearly this organization is the most inept in sports history and shows no sign of relenquishing that title.
The journey is the reward!
I think you need to give the new ownership a chance.
You can’t reverse decades upon decades of mismanagement in less than a year. And, anyway, ownership doesn’t win baseball games – the players do. Improving the fan experience can generate revenue streams, that, in turn, help the product on the field. I would disagree that the Ricketts first move should’ve been to fire Jim Hendry, but that topic’s been beaten to death.
And as far as position players go, you’re absolutely right. That’s a well-documented weakness of the Cubs – though you’re aiming awfully high expecting a “multiple year all-star.” I’d settle for some solid, regular producers – and, who knows, maybe that will start with Geovany Soto and continue with Starlin Castro.
Last, you wrote that the Cubs have no hot prospects. Maybe this is just semantics, but do you mean “hot prospects” or “top prospects”? Castro could probably be considered a “top prospect” at this point, depending on which list you cite. But the Cubs also have guys like Vitters, Cashner and the Jacksons – all of whom I think can safely be described as “hot.”
Wow.
I’m sorry, maybe my expectations were too high for the farm system. Let’s adjust the bar. In the last 10 years, has the Cubs farm system produced a single position player that has been a consistent starter for any major league team? You might find 1 or 2…maybe. If that in itself is not an indictment of the guy in charge of the system, I don’t know what is.
My point with top/hot prospects is that a few years removed from losing 96 games, one would think the Cubs would have at least 1 player ready to start at the major league level this year. They have none.
You are correct that players win baseball games and not ownership. That is precisely why the man in charge of acquiring, drafting and developing players needs to be fired. To me, this could not be more obvious.
The Cubs have been nearly selling out Wrigley Field for much of the last decade. The revenue streams are there. The baseball competence is not.
The journey is the reward!
Players develop at different rates.
And it’s not like the Cubs haven’t filled positions with system talent since 2006 – hello, Ryan Theriot and Geovany Soto. And they tried to use Pie – some would say they should’ve tried harder.
For a long time, the Cubs system was more focused on pitching than position players. That certainly was a problem, but it’s one they’ve seemingly tried to rectify in recent years and the system has improved. In any case, while firing Hendry would’ve certainly fed the bloodlust of many aggravated fans such as yourself, it would’ve left the team without a clear candidate to fill that position – unless you’d care to name a name.
Hendry
Director of Player Development in 1995! promoted to GM in 2002. Over all that time you give me Ryan Theriot and Geo Soto?? Are you telling me that Jim Hendry is the best person on the planet for the job of Cubs GM? Just because I don’t have a name, doesn’t mean one doesn’t exist. You could probably take the winner of a Yahoo fantasy league and have results nearly as good.
I certainly don’t like to see people fired, but where is the accountability??
The goal should be to win a World Series. Is Jim Hendry the guy that is going to get you those players? Nearly 15 years with the organization say no.
The journey is the reward!
Music to my ears...
…and something I have been preaching for a long long time.
Usually, you can develop a couple good players every 10 years by accident, but Hendry has had his mitts on this thing for 15 freaking years!!
I don’t doubt that their minor league system may have improved in the last couple of years, but that has little to do with Jim Hendry. Give anybody 15 years to start developing a couple position players, and you can pick somebody off the street to accomplish that.
I am awaiting to see what Ricketts does in regards to bringing in someone to oversee the baseball operations. IMO, making the right move here will determine what type of success the Cubs have over the next 10 years of so. If Ricketts chooses to go down a similar path as the McCaskey’s (not having a football person oversee the operations), it will be a huge huge mistake.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
Just because the Cubs have not developed position players...
… doesn’t mean the farm system hasn’t been productive. The Cubs HAVE developed pitchers. They have also used pieces like Bobby Hill and Hee Seop Choi to obtain excellent major league players in return.
That said, Hendry has also screwed up the value of players like Ricky Nolasco and Felix Pie and NOT gotten the return he could have received.
It’s a mixed bag, but not a completely negative bag.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Farm system..
Wouldn’t you think a few of the guys they traded for vets may have been good with their new organization? Again, I am referring to position players, but even including pitching the hits are few and far between. Choi, Hill and others have not developed.
I don’t know, but wouldn’t a team be reluctant to trade for your prospects over time with such a dismal track record? If you are constantly overhyping your prospects and your prospects never develop, who would want to trade for them?
The journey is the reward!
That's a good point.
Also, Nolasco was traded more out of desperation (after Hendry lost Furcal) than necessity.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
The accountability lies in the fact...
…that the Ricketts probably have Hendry on a fairly short leash. Jimbo’s certainly made his mistakes, but he’s also brought many productive players to the team and deserves some credit for that. Since he took over as GM in 2002, the Cubs have had five winning seasons and three playoff appearances. I’m not saying I want to see Hendry at the helm in perpetuity, but I don’t have a problem with the Ricketts’ decision to let Jim clean up his mess and provide some management consistency while the organization moves forward.
by daver on Mar 1, 2010 2:04 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
For 2010...
…it was probably the right move to leave status quo.
Going forward, is a completely different story.
The Cubs have had to overpay for numerous players mostly because they haven’t developed any of those players from their own system. I don’t care how much money you have, when you have to do that year in and year out, you are setting yourself up for trouble down the road.
Hendry is not a “builder” of teams. He tends to throw a bunch of stuff against the wall and hope most of it sticks.
The Cubs desperately need an astute/experienced leader to oversee the complete baseball operations and that guy is not onboard. I understand Ricketts being somewhat patient with this, but this issue will be key to future success.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
A Dallas Green type would fit the bill.
"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris
by willie mays hayes' gloves on Mar 1, 2010 7:47 PM CST up reply actions
Probably so.
But who is that kind of executive now?
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
I don't know who...
……the best guy would be, but I will say this; identifying the right person who can lead the entire baseball operation, will be the most important thing Ricketts does over the next 5-10 years.
At least when it comes to winning baseball games.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
Why not with the Cubs?
Because he’s a washed-up, dessicated old fart. He is done. D-O-N-E.
He would be a waste of money at the league minimum.
Al, seriously, it’s time to consider shutting down the blog during the offseason.
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
Oh, stop.
Talking about signing Smoltz is far from the dumbest idea floated on this board. Don’t be overly dramatic.
It was the dumbest idea the first 32 times it was posted on the board
it is still the dumbest idea.
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
Seriously...
… if you think an issue isn’t worth discussing, just pass on by.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Or you could leave during the offseason
"That pitch wasn’t down and in, that pitch was down and up." Tim McCarver
by wrigleyrocker12 on Feb 28, 2010 11:14 AM CST up reply actions
Or leave period.
Kwa...Ki...Sur...Pee...Nee...Ku?
by Kinky Reggae on Feb 28, 2010 2:25 PM CST up reply actions
That is probably true.
Kwa...Ki...Sur...Pee...Nee...Ku?
by Kinky Reggae on Feb 28, 2010 4:25 PM CST up reply actions
A washed-up, dessicated old fart who struck out 38 batters in 40 innings with the Cardinals last season.
And who struck out 73 batters in 78 IP overall. He must be a lucky, washed-up, dessicated old fart, too!
That is enough, lieutenant!
(Channeling my inner Captain Sisko)
Who cares if he's a Cubs fan? This is a football forum! He is a PACKER fan as well. So, from now until March, I’m sure he’ll dedicate a lot of his time here. In late March, then we can be enemies during the baseball season. Besides, the Cubs have perhaps the most loyal baseball fanbase in the country. You have to respect that.
Go Pack!
by Jabooty on Jan 25, 2010 2:58 PM EST
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 2, 2010 7:47 PM CST up reply actions
He was a Lt. Commander by the time Sisko got ahold of him
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
This is what I get for watching Star Trek: The Next Generation for the last few weeks.
I’m into DS9, but I’m only in the second season at this point (“The Homecoming”/“The Circle”/“The Siege” story arc).
Who cares if he's a Cubs fan? This is a football forum! He is a PACKER fan as well. So, from now until March, I’m sure he’ll dedicate a lot of his time here. In late March, then we can be enemies during the baseball season. Besides, the Cubs have perhaps the most loyal baseball fanbase in the country. You have to respect that.
Go Pack!
by Jabooty on Jan 25, 2010 2:58 PM EST
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 3, 2010 9:20 PM CST up reply actions
You know who the Cubs should sign?
Dwight Gooden. He was great. Oh wait, Frank Viola was awesome. Hang on… Fernando Valenzuela was even awesomer. Bring FernandoMania to Chicago!
Jesse Orosco might be available
how about Yount for SS as well
Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/
I don't think awesomer is a word...
just sayin.
Kwa...Ki...Sur...Pee...Nee...Ku?
by Kinky Reggae on Feb 28, 2010 2:25 PM CST up reply actions
While we're at it, how about Tom Seaver?
He was great.
Who cares if he's a Cubs fan? This is a football forum! He is a PACKER fan as well. So, from now until March, I’m sure he’ll dedicate a lot of his time here. In late March, then we can be enemies during the baseball season. Besides, the Cubs have perhaps the most loyal baseball fanbase in the country. You have to respect that.
Go Pack!
by Jabooty on Jan 25, 2010 2:58 PM EST
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 2, 2010 7:48 PM CST up reply actions
Regardless if he has anything left
I don’t see Smoltz signing a cheap contract to pitch middle relief. One of the reasons he went to StL last year is because they gave him a starting spot.
You never know. Playing golf with Maddux might be a big incentive
He is the better golfer too, so he could haves some fun.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Feb 28, 2010 11:44 AM CST up reply actions
Yup
Plus w all the young guns in the bullpen, a veteran who has had incredible success as a starter and as a closer could be what we need to help Marmol, Caridad, and Guzman reach their full potential.
↑ This is what I'm sayin'. ↑
If Smoltz does have anything left (and I certainly don’t know one way or the other), ask him whether he’d be interested in being a set-up guy with a shot at closing some games when Marmol needs a break. It would also be a great opportunity for Smoltz to begin transitioning into a mentor/coaching role with a mostly very young bullpen. I obviously don’t know whether that’s something he’s interested in but, if so, it would be another great selling point.
Look, Smotlz isn’t a make-break issue for the Cubs – but I see no harm in discussing the idea of signing him and, given Smoltz’s results last season, it’s not as ridiculous as some are trying to make it sound.
Obviously none of us know
but I have a real hard time believing Smoltz would take a setup role. I suspect if no one offers him a chance to start then he’ll sit out for awhile and wait to see what develops. Worked very nicely for Pedro and the Phillies last year.
Yeah, that's true.
I could see a pitcher of his stature wanting to either start or perhaps close with nothing in between. Then again, if he really wants to play another full season, it seems like he’ll need to either compromise or take a job with a small market team.
Now that you mention it, though, I could definitely see him going to Pedro route.
fully agreed on all these points - salll i'm saying
The cunning, wisdom and moxie is still there, but Smoltz knows the hand writing’s been on the wall for a while and his ambition has to be realistic. And my suggestion is just that .. to be exactly being a set up man who might be called on to do deeper stuff. He’s not exactly been vocal about his plans, so who knows?
Blue mountains high .. Blue valleys low
I don't know which way we will go ..
One summer dream .. one summer dream ..
coda
ELO, 1975
Smoltz is likely holding out for a great opportunity to be part of a winner
I think he is perfectly content waiting until mid-season to join the team of his choice. Either that or he is hemming and hawing about retirement, but doesn’t want to fall into the Brett Favre trap.
The Blackhawks and the Stanley Cup in 2010.
To be honest,
I’m not sure anyone can duplicate what the athlete you mention did. That was a nightmare, but at least, I no longer have to deal with it as he’s not on my team anymore.
Which one do you think he is doing? Is he waiting to find a good team, or just thinking about retiring or coming back?
Who cares if he's a Cubs fan? This is a football forum! He is a PACKER fan as well. So, from now until March, I’m sure he’ll dedicate a lot of his time here. In late March, then we can be enemies during the baseball season. Besides, the Cubs have perhaps the most loyal baseball fanbase in the country. You have to respect that.
Go Pack!
by Jabooty on Jan 25, 2010 2:58 PM EST
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 2, 2010 7:50 PM CST up reply actions
Personally I wouldn't be surprised if he saw what Pedro did last year
and is thinking the same thing. The odds in Pedro and Smoltz pitching full seasons are small so why not wait until mid-season and see which contender has the best opening?
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